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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flags..

541 replies

Elephant9 · 28/08/2025 13:46

Just a chat to understand what’s going on with the influx of England and UJ flags all over the streets?

thoughts?
where did it stem from?
is it making you uncomfortable? (It is, me, but not entirely sure why)

OP posts:
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32
MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 20:15

HangryLikeTheHulk · 31/08/2025 20:08

Why is race the divider you choose to use ?

Why not eg age, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, hair colour, height ?

Why are you obsessed with race in particular ?

It is the divider being discussed here, of course other dividers exist sex (gender doesn’t exist separately), socio economic status etc. But whether people chose to reject or work with other groups depends on whether setting aside the differences is beneficial or not. Setting aside sex differences is vital to the continuance of the human race so these tribes can choose to work together peacefully or there might be an incidence of one tribe trying to enslave or dominate the other. Surely you can work out this point yourself.

why are you intent on trying to concentrate on calling other people racist when they are setting out fundamental human behaviour.

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 20:09

JHound · 31/08/2025 19:45

Well they are not a minority are they. You are, for some weird reason lumping all “POC” into one group.

The largest single group in Brum, is still white British people.

I’m not sure what you don’t understand. It is Us and not us - two groups white British and not white British. Man united fans not Man united fans, Lions and not lions

I know you desperately want to see something else, but humans are fundamentally tribal. Look at the way we form groups and interact with other groups. Sometimes we over ride the default position when it benefits us but the default position remains.

HangryLikeTheHulk · 31/08/2025 20:08

Why is race the divider you choose to use ?

Why not eg age, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, hair colour, height ?

Why are you obsessed with race in particular ?

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 20:03

JHound · 31/08/2025 19:47

So to be clear you view white immigrants as “us” but black and brown Britons as “not us”

So for you it is about race. I don’t know why you view “not us” as down to skin colour.

Although at least you’re more honest than those who claim the concerns about immigration have nothing to do with race.

Edited

So to be clear you haven’t been able to comprehend my post. Let me set it out a little bit clearer for you. I mention white British (.42%). The white immigrants who make up the 6% to bring the white population up to 48% are likely to not be seen as part of the same tribe as the 42% either but won’t be as easily identifiable as other.

i hope that has helped you see that your post is utter nonsense. I am also not saying that is my perspective but it is evolutionarily speaking the fall back position re a tribal mentality. This mentality can be superficially over ridden if it is beneficial for the individual to do so, but humans are fundamentally tribal.

JHound · 31/08/2025 19:56

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 17:55

Not Ferryhill but not far off. Definitely not m/c by any qualifier 😁

It’s a common trope among the anti-immigrant brigade. Anybody with a different view is apparently “middle class” and lives in a “white middle class enclave”.

It’s rather ironic that those who complain about being labelled are happy to rapidly apply their own labels to dismiss what others have to say.

menonprohibebis · 31/08/2025 19:55

Driving home tonight, I saw a lot of flags proudly hanging - I thought they looked good!

JHound · 31/08/2025 19:47

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 17:46

But they still do not make up the majority. In human tribalism there is us and not us. From a British white persons perspective (42% in Birmingham) the majority are “not us” and don’t forget this is across a large area in some areas of the city white British will not form part of the largest groups.

What effort are you making to understand the perspective of these people? Or do their voices not matter to you? Would you rather just label them to fit your narrative

Edited

So to be clear you view white immigrants as “us” but black and brown Britons as “not us”

So for you it is about race. I don’t know why you view “not us” as down to skin colour.

Although at least you’re more honest than those who claim the concerns about immigration have nothing to do with race.

JHound · 31/08/2025 19:45

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 17:32

But you clearly haven’t bothered to read my posts, yes those are the statistics across the country. In Birmingham whites (inc those immigrants who are white) actually form only around 48% of the population. People of colour form the majority. It’s no use trying to make the demographics of some white middle class village relevant for a white person living in a majority non white area. The position is they’re the minority where they live,

There’s a lot of middle class privilege on Mumsnet, there’s a lot of condescending comments on here from people who think they know better. Many people are feeling helpless and unheard - they do not have the social standing or finances to make changes in the way you think they should. They feel that drawing a flag at least gets them noticed, at least they are doing something.

it’s the faux superiority complex of the Middle class (and Left) not listening to very real concerns about what is being experienced in these communities which has allowed the far right to get a foothold. Maybe if they stopped telling these people they’re “thick racists” and got off their high horse to listen and understand the issue would improve somewhat.

At the moment there’s a lot of people passing judgement on situations and people they have no real understanding of.

Edited

Well they are not a minority are they. You are, for some weird reason lumping all “POC” into one group.

The largest single group in Brum, is still white British people.

JHound · 31/08/2025 19:40

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 18:53

You are having a laugh aren’t you? Racial tensions have run high in Birmingham for decades and not just between whites and people of colour

As a Brummie…this is a lie.

JHound · 31/08/2025 19:39

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 18:49

Because people feel threatened they, see what’s happening in other places and don’t want similar to happen there. The immigration situation across Europe is out of control, you must be able to see that? Labelling people “thick” just because they don’t think the same as you reflects badly.

interesting you express a preference of moving away from people who aren’t like you, yet criticise those who don’t want people who they consider aren’t like them moving on near them.

You think not wanting to live next to people because of their beliefs is the same as not wanting to live next to people because of their skin colour?

Ok.

And if being a minority is always threatening does that mean you think every black and brown person living in a white majority area should feel threatened.

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 19:18

PeanutCup, I live in a Durham pit village. There ain't nothing middle class about it. The population is 98.3% white. Yet we're up to our eyeballs in flags. Fortunately the appalling racist banner was removed after a few days. The community tensions here are between the white population putting up the flags and the white population who want them down but daren't say so for fear of abuse and worse.

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 19:14

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 18:49

Because people feel threatened they, see what’s happening in other places and don’t want similar to happen there. The immigration situation across Europe is out of control, you must be able to see that? Labelling people “thick” just because they don’t think the same as you reflects badly.

interesting you express a preference of moving away from people who aren’t like you, yet criticise those who don’t want people who they consider aren’t like them moving on near them.

No, they're being fed a narrative and falling for it, hook, line and sinker. I've heard people state categorically that we're not allowed to fly the St George or Union flags. Both are on permanent display in the town centre. There's a shop permanently flying the union flag and armed forces day flag (owner is ex service).

Most immigration into the UK is perfectly legal. Scaremongering doesn't help integration.

I don't like my town at the moment. There is a febrile undercurrent. There are very few people who are 'not like us' in the town. Less than 2%. Hysteria has been whipped up by some who are trying to divide rather than unite. Locals are blaming 'other' for situations they have some control over themselves but choose not to try to change, and for situations they have little control over, but can certainly not be blamed on immigration.

PeanutCup · 31/08/2025 19:14

I do think that unless you live in such an area where community tensions are sky high and perhaps not the multicultural utopia often presented on here, you should refrain from expressing an opinion. You can't force people to celebrate diversity whilst sitting in your m/c white majority rural idyll where your reality is somewhat different from impoverished, transient neighbourhood packed to the gills with hmos.

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 18:53

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 17:54

That’s a shame, because I don’t look at any POC as “them.” Or “not us.”

Birmingham has been multicultural for many, many years. This isn’t new, and those protests are (relatively). Why the sudden anger?

You are having a laugh aren’t you? Racial tensions have run high in Birmingham for decades and not just between whites and people of colour

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 18:49

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 17:48

'It’s no use trying to make the demographics of some white middle class village relevant for a white person living in a majority non white area. The position is they’re the minority where they live,'

White, middle class village.

Hahahahahahahahahaha

Have a look at Durham pit villages. Away with your m/c shite.

Anyway - your post still doesn't explain why a town of 98.3% white inhabitants is swamped with St George flags.

I' m as working class as they come. And I can spot thick, racist knob heads when I see them. I'm really starting to wish I lived in a nice m/c town, because at the moment, my town doesn't feel like home.

Because people feel threatened they, see what’s happening in other places and don’t want similar to happen there. The immigration situation across Europe is out of control, you must be able to see that? Labelling people “thick” just because they don’t think the same as you reflects badly.

interesting you express a preference of moving away from people who aren’t like you, yet criticise those who don’t want people who they consider aren’t like them moving on near them.

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 18:14

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 18:11

That’s Councillor Wafty Crank, to you.

Beggin' his pardon. 😁

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 18:11

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 18:00

He makes my skin crawl. I keep an eye on his twitter feed and some of the inflammatory guff he comes out with beggars belief. That this county would be happy with someone like Wrafty Cank (love a Spoonerism) in charge is very strange.

That’s Councillor Wafty Crank, to you.

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 18:00

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 17:56

Zero qualifier 😂

Commiserations on your Darren Grimes.

He makes my skin crawl. I keep an eye on his twitter feed and some of the inflammatory guff he comes out with beggars belief. That this county would be happy with someone like Wrafty Cank (love a Spoonerism) in charge is very strange.

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 31/08/2025 17:57

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 17:54

That’s a shame, because I don’t look at any POC as “them.” Or “not us.”

Birmingham has been multicultural for many, many years. This isn’t new, and those protests are (relatively). Why the sudden anger?

Totally agree. Why does it matter if white people aren’t the majority? Surely only a racist would think this was an issue? A non white person born in the uk is as British as a white person. 🤷🏻‍♀️

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 17:56

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 17:55

Not Ferryhill but not far off. Definitely not m/c by any qualifier 😁

Zero qualifier 😂

Commiserations on your Darren Grimes.

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 17:55

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 17:52

I’m plucking out of thin air here, because there are many pit villages. But that’s the first time anyone’s ever called Ferryhill middle class.

Not Ferryhill but not far off. Definitely not m/c by any qualifier 😁

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 17:54

MyHeartyCoralSnail · 31/08/2025 17:46

But they still do not make up the majority. In human tribalism there is us and not us. From a British white persons perspective (42% in Birmingham) the majority are “not us” and don’t forget this is across a large area in some areas of the city white British will not form part of the largest groups.

What effort are you making to understand the perspective of these people? Or do their voices not matter to you? Would you rather just label them to fit your narrative

Edited

That’s a shame, because I don’t look at any POC as “them.” Or “not us.”

Birmingham has been multicultural for many, many years. This isn’t new, and those protests are (relatively). Why the sudden anger?

R0ckandHardPlace · 31/08/2025 17:53

rockstarshoes · 31/08/2025 16:06

Anyone else seeing the irony of all the patriotic flag waving at a time when polling says 3 quarters of Britains wouldn’t fight if the Country came under attack!

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2099931/nearly-three-quarters-brits-unwilling

To be fair, given that there are only 8 million UK males aged 18-40, it’s only around 12% of the population that would be eligible to fight.

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 17:52

Nagginthenag · 31/08/2025 17:48

'It’s no use trying to make the demographics of some white middle class village relevant for a white person living in a majority non white area. The position is they’re the minority where they live,'

White, middle class village.

Hahahahahahahahahaha

Have a look at Durham pit villages. Away with your m/c shite.

Anyway - your post still doesn't explain why a town of 98.3% white inhabitants is swamped with St George flags.

I' m as working class as they come. And I can spot thick, racist knob heads when I see them. I'm really starting to wish I lived in a nice m/c town, because at the moment, my town doesn't feel like home.

I’m plucking out of thin air here, because there are many pit villages. But that’s the first time anyone’s ever called Ferryhill middle class.

BlueJuniper94 · 31/08/2025 17:49

SleeplessInWherever · 31/08/2025 08:05

May I present… a painted St George’s Cross. A flag. With some superiority racist graffiti.

Well. It’s supposed to be anyway.

I did read your post. The flag people are not politely expressing a love for their country, they’re expressing that they don’t wish to share it.

I was clear in my post that it is not fair to judge all those participating in and supporting a movement by their worst excesses and examples.

I'm really not keen on the values of activists who like to hang up rainbow flags as I feel they're very hostile to the rights of women, gay people and children. But I don't assume they're all pedophiles just because a lot of them turn out to be pedophiles... some however would argue that that is the inevitable endpoint when queer theory is followed through. That it is an intrinsic part of the ideaology. However, I'm quite sure most people who wave a rainbow flag do not think this way, or are complicit in these extremes.

I agree that graffiti is unacceptable and I would hate to see it where I live. Do you understand my point now?

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